I have arrived! I am now officially part of the 50+ club. I arrived in March, and my friends were sure to let everyone know. A trio of trouble-makers entered my yard in the dark of night, placing signs that said, “Happy 50th Birthday, Mike” EVERYWHERE. They placed other decorations on the porch and lawn. The house was elaborately decorated so everyone who passed by would notice. Karen hosted a party (or should I say a memorial service for the passing of my youth), and again, our friends were more than happy to attend, armed with “not-so-nice” gifts. One friend arrived with a bouquet of prunes. Ouch. Another came with Fiber One cereal. One friend even gave me a toilet paper wand. Don’t ask.

Many who attended tried to cheer me up by reminding me that 50 is the new 40. I tried to convince them it was actually the new 30. No one was buying that. Turning 50 was a rough one. I’m not sure why it had the affect on me it did, but it was tough. Now that I’ve had some time to embrace it, I’m realizing it’s nothing but a number.

I’m also realizing I’m part of a growing number of people who have reached their 50s and find themselves still raising families. We are a generation of divided loyalties. We want to the be the parents our children deserve, while being the children our parents deserve. My mom is turning 81 this month. She lives in Oklahoma, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to make the trek down south to see her as often as I want. We still go several times a year, but with three kids who are all involved in activities, it’s getting more challenging. Mom’s health is not what it used to be, so having her come here for a visit is also difficult. We do what we can, but for many of us, it doesn’t feel like enough. The boomer generation is also the sandwich generation. The one thing I have learned is, guilt accomplishes nothing. I’ve carved out time every morning to call mom on my way to work. I find that 10 to 15 minute drive gives me an opportunity to fill her in on what her grandchildren are up to, and by the tone of her voice I can tell how she is doing. Mom looks forward to the morning calls, and so do I. So while I’m not in the same town with her. and I’m not able to visit as often as I like, I am able to maintain communication in a way that allows us to feel connected and to let her know how much we care.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, my oldest child heads to high school in a few months, my daughter heads to junior high, and our youngest son will still be in grade school. I think perhaps the most sobering part of turning 50 was looking ahead 10 years and realizing when I’m 60, I will still have a child in college!

I appreciate your loyalty to 50+ Lifestyles. I’m now a card-carrying member of the club and couldn’t be more proud. Wishing you all a great summer and to all you mothers and grandmothers, we hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Best regards,
Mike Mickle

Imagine the upcoming summer months seen through a child’s eyes. It’s a time filled with anticipation and excitement of vacations, barbecues, picnics, time away from school. But sadly, this isn’t the reality for some children in our community. Recent highly publicized cases of child abuse are very disturbing. Child abuse and neglect are unacceptable at any time of year, but the stark contrast of sunny summer days is a grim reminder that the lives and futures of some children are threatened.

Each year 1,300 to 1,800 children are identified as victims of child abuse and neglect in the local area. But, the numbers aren’t the whole story. Behind each number is a child who needs help. Research tells us that child victims grow up with a greater likelihood of having trouble in school, engaging in high-risk behaviors such as substance abuse and early sexual activity, and may suffer from depression and low self-esteem. Child abuse victims are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system and are at risk of perpetuating the cycle of violence in their interpersonal relationships. For some children, death is the ultimate outcome.

The issues are daunting, and the stakes are high, but thirty-five years of experience at the Child Abuse Council tell us that the lives of children can literally be saved by prevention and early response. High quality services can transform home environments or, when necessary, can ensure safe and nurturing alternatives. The choices are clear…we can either invest in protecting children right now, or we can wait and deal with their problems later at a much higher cost. The Child Abuse Council is committed to the first choice, and that resonates with individuals who fully understand the stakes.

You may ask “What can I do to help?” There are a number of options.

1) Support the parents you know…not necessarily financially, but emotionally. Parenting is a tough and sometimes lonely job.
2) Report child abuse or neglect if you have reason to believe it’s happening. In Illinois, call 1-800-25-ABUSE, in Iowa, call
1-800-362-2178, or call your local police department.
3) If problems exist, encourage families to get help. The community has numerous child and family services that can assist.
4) Support organizations that work to prevent and respond to child abuse and family violence. Volunteer or make a donation. Because of the economy many organizations are seeing decreases in state and local support at the very time that families need increased help.
5) Hug your own child or grandchild and be thankful that he/she is safe, secure and loved.

Child abuse and neglect can be prevented…and each of us can make an investment in the future of the children we know and those we don’t.

For more information about the Child Abuse Council’s prevention, education and treatment programs, visit us at www.childabuseqc.org.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about planning your estate? Most people focus their estate planning efforts on distributing their property to their spouse and children, in the hopes that these loved ones will have safe and secure futures. However, if your loved ones’ future financial security is your concern, then simply distributing property to them at your death may not be enough.

Part of making an effective estate plan is looking into the future and anticipating the difficulties your loved ones might face after your death, and then building the appropriate protections into your plan. For example, what is the likelihood that one of your children might face a divorce in the future? It is not a pleasant thought, but it is a reality for a large percentage of Americans. Or, what about credit issues? In the past few years alone, creditors’ claims resulting from the inability to pay mortgages and other bills have threatened the well-being of countless families. These are issues that no one wants their family to have to deal with, but you can prepare for them with an effective estate plan.

What exactly is an “effective” estate plan? There are an array of Wills and Living Trusts available, from do-it-yourself internet solutions to plans offered by paralegals or others without the knowledge or experience to truly meet your needs. Unfortunately, most of these estate plans are really only one-size-fits-all documents that aren’t made to address the unique concerns of your family.

The documents in your estate plan are only as good as the person who creates them. Therefore, when it comes to effective estate planning, the knowledge and experience of the advisor you select can make all the difference. It is important to work with someone who is qualified to create a plan that is not only tailored to your circumstances, but that will work when the time comes.

When choosing someone to help you establish your estate plan, make sure you choose a licensed, experienced estate planning attorney.

• Licensed. Your estate planning attorney should be licensed to practice law in your state. Many so-called estate planners are unlicensed paralegals or insurance salespeople, and
simply do not have the education or expertise to tailor an effective estate plan for you.
• Experienced. If your attorney has years of experience, he or she has learned firsthand which strategies are effective and which are not. An experienced attorney is in the best position to give you solid, time-tested guidance.
• Estate Planning Attorney. Not all attorneys are estate planning attorneys. Within the practice of law, attorneys focus on many different areas, from divorce to litigation to patents. Estate planning attorneys focus their time on mastering the complexities of wills, trusts, and estates. You wouldn’t choose a heart surgeon to perform brain surgery on you. In the same way, you don’t want to choose a lawyer who does not focus on estate planning to help you plan your estate.

A licensed, experienced estate planning attorney will learn about your family’s financial situation and estate planning concerns, and draft documents that not only allow your property to pass in the way you wish at the time of your death, but that can also address a number of other concerns, such as:

• Protecting Your Spouse. When you pass on money and other property to your spouse, it can be vulnerable to creditors, or even to a new husband or wife in the event of remarriage. A well-planned estate can keep your legacy in the hands of your spouse and family, instead.
• Protecting Your Children. Your children’s inheritance can be vulnerable, too. Creditors’ claims, divorce, lawsuits, and even poor spending decisions can eat away at money you intended for your kids’ futures. Proper estate planning can help protect your children’s inheritance and make sure that it lasts.
• Minimizing Taxes. Estate taxes, gift taxes, and income taxes can all reduce the inheritance you intend to leave for your loved ones. An effective plan can help you minimize the bite taken out of your estate by the IRS.

In the hands of the right advisor, your estate plan can be tailored to address all of these concerns and many others. It can be a valuable tool for protecting your spouse and children even after you’re gone.
Nash Nash Bean & Ford are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. To receive a copy of our most recent newsletter “Your Estate Matters” or for a free consultation on Estate or Long Term Care Planning, call 309-944-2188, 309-762-9368 or 1-800-644-5345. You may also contact our firm by email at info@nashbeanford.com or visit our web site at http://www.nashbeanford.com.

The firm devotes its practice primarily in the areas of estate, business and tax planning and related areas of the law, as well as elder law and trust administration and probate. We offer guidance and advice to our clients in every area of estate planning.

This column is designed for general information purposes only, and is not intended, nor should be construed or relied upon, as legal advice. Please consult your attorney if specific legal information is desired.

If your eyes have been itchy, red, and watery over the past few weeks, it could be that you’re suffering from allergic conjunctivitis. Seasonal allergies affect more than 35 million Americans each year. Tree pollens in April and May, grass pollens in June and July, and mold spores and weed pollens in July and August add up to a five month stretch of eye irritating allergens.

The moist tissues on the surface of the eye, in the nose, and throat are important elements in the body’s immune defense mechanism. The mucus on the surfaces is able to trap airborne particles such as bacteria, virus, pollen, and pollutants. All of these particles have a molecular structure which may or may not be recognized by the elements of the body’s immune surveillance.

In the case of allergy, molecules on the surface of particles such as pollen trapped in the mucus are recognized and become bound to circulating molecules known as immunoglobulins. This aggregation may then be recognized by cells which respond by releasing many very powerful chemicals. These chemicals such as histamines cause blood vessels to become leaky and the surrounding tissues swell. Some of the chemicals released also cause itching.

Most have heard of antihistamine medications. These are frequent elements in prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs designed to combat the symptoms of allergy. Neutralizing the effects of histamines by these drugs helps to minimize the swelling of tissues; but the oral medicines of this type frequently also cause drowsiness.

Another method of interfering with the allergic response stabilizes the cells which release histamines and other chemicals in the first place. Many of the newer prescriptions and some over-the-counter brands combine these two actions for greater effectiveness.

The better understanding of how the body responds to substances which cause an allergic reaction has brought improved treatments for these symptoms which plague so many people. Symptoms of seasonal allergies are also quite similar to dry eye symptoms which are treated very differently. It is important to see your eye doctor for a medical evaluation if your attempts to control symptoms are unsuccessful.

Richard Phinney, M.D. of Eye Surgeons Associates is Board certified and fellowship trained in cornea/refractive. His specialty interests include refractive surgery procedures including: laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK); photorefractive keratectomy (PRK); astigmatic keratotomy (AK); cataract/IOL using multifocal implants; and advanced lamellar transplant surgery (DSEK). Dr. Phinney practices at our office in Rock Island, Illinois. For more information, please see our website: esaeyecare.com.

A while back before school started, my wonderful husband decided that we should both lose weight. I was heavy and did not want to change my way of doing things. My husband told me he would assume all shopping, cooking and menu planning. Our grocery bills more than doubled because fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive! My husband insisted that this was not a diet—it was our new healthy living lifestyle!! It became a household joke.

Not having to cook, I happily ate what was given to me. I rebelliously did not exercise and even went to bed earlier. Between eating less and reducing the late night snacking, I felt lighter after a few months. I began to assume the responsibility of cooking and shopping. We used less oil and tried new vegetables. Small portions of fresh salmon, tuna and shark from the Great Midwest Seafood store in Davenport felt indulgent and healthy. After nine months of this new “healthy living lifestyle,” I bravely weighed myself and found I had lost about 50 pounds. I could not believe it! There was very little effort on my part.

I sometimes compare hearing aids to taking on “a new healthy living lifestyle.” It is important to realize that the changes you are making are permanent and they are for YOU. Sometimes it takes a little prodding or an experience to push you into this new mindset. Hopefully once the benefits are realized, the habit of better hearing becomes permanent, even if you are “only” by yourself or “only” with your spouse. It may be easiest to begin using hearing aids in steps, wearing them a little bit at a time. Like a diet, using hearing aids means re-learning what “normal” really means. TV volume is a good test to see how your old hearing and improved hearing ability compares to how a real normal hearing person experiences sound. Ultimately, steady hearing aid use has been repeatedly shown to be correlated to happier, more active, healthier individuals.

Here is another very personal fact about me…I have worn amplification since I was 5 years old. Even as an audiologist, I go through the same mood swings with hearing aid use just like anyone else. It takes effort to live better. So, after about 2 ? years, my husband and I still count our calories and add fresh produce to everything imaginable. We feel better overall…except on holidays when we give in a little. And I still wear my hearing aids every day.

Upcoming events…..

Have your ears checked at the Senior Voice Fair May 10 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds .

Moving soon to a new location…..

Parker Audiology is moving soon to 3601 N. Division Street, Davenport, next to Popcorn Charlie’s.

In May, many new ideas emerge as Spring takes hold. April showers bring May flowers, a statement on nature we recall and repeat, seasonally. Nature blossoms through May, ending just in time for Memorial Day, or “decoration day” as some of us call visits to our forbearers’ graves. Peony bushes in their full glory and other perennials are ready to be picked or cut to form a bouquet of honor.

Streams and rivers begin to fill to present their aspects of Spring. Over the past several years, streams of water small and large pushed their excess onto lands surrounding them. Rivers and streams, creeks and other paths usually provide an orderly dispersal of water, so vital and valuable to life. In the middle 1980s, a poem “jumped” out of the Mississippi River as I drove along it in Clinton County, Iowa early on an August morning.

REMEMBERING
Millions of mornings the Mississippi awakes
and rolls over fish stones and old dead bones.
In the early morning the sun lays back of the horizon.
Animals meet the call of the old river as best they can.
In the evening the forgotten tones of the Mark call
hang above the water. She remembers
the rapids of her upper waters and Captains courageous.

In the early 1990s, poet Dick Stahl of Davenport, Iowa, and his wife Helen, journeyed up and down the northern Mississippi River for parts of four years to gather material for his book , Under The Green Tree Hotel. Released for Iowa’s Sesquicentennial in 1996, it contains 81 pages in stories and poems published by Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, East Hall Press. The poems stretch from page 51 to page 81. I have selected one about the power of the Mississippi in its log rafting years, the central activity of Stahl’s book.

THE GUTTENBERG PRESS
This river’s harvesting its own stand of timber this spring,
dragging the sloughs and backwaters for tender roots
and rotting gnarled limbs. Cottonwoods, black willows
and silver maples lean their backs over the river
with their green hair waving like reeling drunks
before being taken in. Then, with hardly a splash,
a white oak dips, moving its green tentacles and dark scaly body
and black-toes fins toward a red maple. These predators
lock arms and close their bodies, raising high dorsal fins
like timbered islands to call all shore debris. The pack assaults
the raft as branches scratch my legs, reaching for my oar
before the current pushes them back.

Dick Stahl’s book, including his imaginative and descriptive poetry, points to the Green Tree, in LeClaire, Iowa, a sure navigation point as the famous log rafts, with a strong history and high excitement, maneuvered down the Mississippi, to the sawmills and lumber centers of the Weyerhausers and other self-made barons of sawed lumber. From Langston Hughes in his poem:

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS.
I’ve known rivers;
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and
older than the flow of human blood in
human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers,
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom
turn all golden in the sunset.
I’ve known rivers; ancient dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

It is the month of May, and we want a merry month. There is usually lots of action to follow. Please join me here in June. By that time, we will be married to Summer.

Amid the monuments and the towering mature trees along a pleasant knoll at Oakdale Memorial Gardens, I had the privilege to share a few words with the family at a recent graveside service. The setting was beautiful.

Nearby, an age-old oak tree towered over us. Everyone was standing beneath the canopy of its sprawling branches; its leaves were beginning to sprout and bloom. The backdrop was perfect.

The tree, I suggested, was the product of a seed, dormant when planted, but nurtured to life with the proper environment and care. Once planted in the soil, the seed had the opportunity to come to life and, over time, grew into something many times larger than itself.

But, a seed requires more than just the soil to grow and thrive. It needs the warmth and the light of the sun to cause the soil to become the perfect environment to grow the seed and to synthesize its nutrients. And it requires the nourishment of the rains to keep the soil moist and to bring water and nutrients into the plant. Indeed, all these things are required for seeds to thrive and grow.

And yet there is one more critical element that gives a seed the very best chance to grow and thrive: it is the gardener who tends to the seed after it is planted, making certain that it receives everything it needs, in proper proportions, to grow. And as the seedling grows, the good gardener continues to tend to the ground and its growing plant, fertilizing the ground, removing the weeds and pruning the branches as necessary to provide for the optimum growth, strength and support of the growing tree.

And so it is that each of us has ample opportunity, throughout our lifetimes, to plant “seeds” in the lives of others. As we nurture those seeds with the sunshine of friendship and the nourishing rains of love, along with careful tending and occasional pruning, we can “grow” meaningful relationships that, over time, make the meaning of our lives many times larger than ourselves.

Thus, we all have choices to make. We must decide to receive the seeds offered by others, for they are dormant unless we plant them and nourish them with friendship and love. And then we must also choose to plant our own seeds of love and friendship in others, giving them opportunity to plant, nourish, tend and prune. As we do, our circle of love and friendship grows, which also makes the meaning of our lives become many times larger than ourselves.

This is why funerals and visitations and gatherings are so meaningful and helpful when someone has died: because we all plant seeds in the lives of others – even as they have planted seeds in us. And we must acknowledge this in meaningful ways so to honor their life, and the seeds of love and friendship they have both offered and planted. And we must also salve the pruning we experience in our own lives as we acknowledge and experience the loss of their physical presence and fellowship among us.

Perhaps the most important thing to realize about the seed is this: although capable, it would never have the opportunity to produce the tree if it was never planted…which means that it would never have the opportunity to become anything larger than itself.

Yes, we can learn a lot from a tree. And its comparatively small seeds.

Remember Well.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation,
• 10 million Americans are estimated to have osteoporosis.
• Approximately 24 percent of hip fracture patients age 50 and older die in the year following their fractures.
• 20 percent of those with osteoporosis are men.

Even though 85 percent of adult bone mass is acquired by age 20, adults can still make lifestyle choices to improve bone health. You can help prevent osteoporosis by getting enough exercise, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D.

Foods to help prevent osteoporosis

Dairy products. Dairy products, such as low-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese, are the easiest way to reach your calcium needs. Just one cup of milk or yogurt contains around 300 mg of this bone-strengthening mineral. However, it is not realistic for everyone to get their calcium from dairy alone. Some people have milk allergies or lactose intolerance, choose a vegan diet or simply don’t like the taste of dairy. Alternatives such as lactose-free, soy, almond and rice milk typically have the same amount of calcium as cow’s milk. Calcium supplements are another option. Remember to spread your calcium intake throughout the day – it is absorbed best if you consume 500 mg or less at one time.
Vitamin D is very important because it helps your body use calcium. The milk you buy in the grocery store usually has vitamin D added to it. Other food sources containing Vitamin D include fatty fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines, shitake mushrooms and eggs. One cup of milk or yogurt typically has 100 IU of vitamin D, 3 ounces of salmon has around 450 IU and 1 large egg contains 40 IU.

Fish. Canned sardines and salmon (with bones) are good ways to get calcium. You can also get calcium from eating canned shrimp. Three ounces of canned salmon has around 180 mg of calcium.

Fortified foods. Calcium and vitamin D are sometimes added to certain brands of juice, soy milk, rice milk, cereals, snacks and breads. This is a great way to get more calcium and vitamin D intake daily. Read the food labels on packages to learn how much of each nutrient the food contains.

Fruits and vegetables. Several studies have linked higher intakes of fruits and vegetables with better overall health and improved bone health. Some scientists believe this is because fruits and vegetables contain certain nutrients that are beneficial for bones. Some examples of these nutrients are calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K. Fruits and vegetables rich in these nutrients include dark leafy greens such as kale, collard greens and spinach, tomato products, oranges and papaya. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and you’ll be sure to get a mix of these nutrients.

Know Your Numbers

How much calcium and vitamin D do you need each day to help prevent osteoporosis? Women 50 years and over need 1200 mg of calcium each day. Men get away with only 1000 mg of calcium a day until the age of 70, when they need to increase to 1200 mg as well. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin D is 600 IU each day for both women and men over 50. This number goes up to 800 IU a day for anyone 70 or over. Some individuals have low blood levels of vitamin D and may need more each day. Your doctor can recommend the right vitamin D dose for you.

For more information on ways to prevent osteoporosis or increase your nutrient intake, ask your Hy-Vee dietitian.

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

As some of our readers may know, almost every weekend I’m doing an open house at one of our residential communities in the area. I really enjoy doing that, because it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to better understand what buyers are thinking about for their next home. In fact, several of our home modification ideas have come as a result of suggestions that I got from talking to buyers—most particularly senior buyers—because that’s who we currently gear our homes to these days. They’ve suggested that we use more hardwood flooring, and more granite countertops, and that we show more three season rooms and finished basements. We’ve been happy to do that. And they have responded very well, so we are attentive to what they tell us.

I had the opportunity recently to visit with some good folks at a CASI to talk about some of the tools our buyers are using these days to acquire their new homes. More and more, there are various factors at work, but in the final analysis the key consideration seems to come down to the idea of how best to preserve one’s wealth, while acquiring that new home of choice.

First of all, I want to make a couple points. Number one, I am not a financial advisor or an attorney so I don’t give financial or legal advice. That’s because I have an understanding with those professionals. I won’t give financial advice, if they don’t try and build houses. And I just know you don’t want to buy a house built by an accountant or a lawyer.

Number two, I have no vested interest in IF or HOW my buyers finance their new home, because I don’t own a bank or a mortgage company. I get my money at closing regardless of how the home was purchased. But, like the typical restaurant critic, who can tell a great meal from a poor one even if he’s not a chef, I can usually tell if a buyer left money on the table by not considering all the available home purchase options.

So, let’s review some of those options and maybe give you some ideas to at least consider when you take that next step into senior housing.

GOOD OLD CASH

When I’m in line at the supermarket, I often wonder if anyone uses cash for anything anymore. It seems like everyone in line ahead of me is using a credit card, a debit card or some other kind of card with a picture of their car on it or a Cubs logo or a rainbow or a teddy bear or something equally “fun.” And when it’s my turn, and I hand the cashier $10 for my $6.39 purchase, it seems like she (or he) is not sure what to do with me. But when it comes to buying a new home, I want to say that yes, we do accept cash or a check, though I often wonder if using cash is the best way to preserve wealth. I see it on occasion. Today’s older generation seems to remember the depression, and they feel that owning their home outright is the best, safest way to buy a new home. And for some, it may, in fact, be the best way to do it. But as we’ll see in a few minutes, it is generally better to make your cash work for you—even when you’re sleeping—and cash tied up in a home seldom is working for you. But more on that later.

CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE

When most of us bought our first house, we made the smallest down payment we could, and we got a mortgage for the balance. And every month, we made our mortgage payment. In talking with senior buyers these days, I know that many have been in their current home for 25 or 35 years, and the mortgage has been paid off. They tell me that making that final payment was one of the happiest days of their life. So, when they look at their next home, they are not too anxious to start making monthly mortgage payments again. For that reason, some give serious thought to paying cash for their new home.

But unfortunately, in many instances, the equity in their current home is not sufficient to buy their new home. So, to make the move to that new home, they either need to take out a mortgage and make monthly payments or dig into savings, pension benefits, a 401K or some similar device. For some, that may make sense, depending how much money they have in reserve. But I mentioned the desire to preserve wealth a few minutes ago, and so it seems counter intuitive for some buyers to dig into savings to buy a new home. After all, the objective of having a nest egg is to have the funds necessary for a rainy day, like an unexpected expense, medical emergency or the like.

THE REVERSE MORTGAGE FOR PURCHASE

Again, Dan Dolan Homes has no vested interest in the source of funding that buyers use to acquire their new homes. But after building and selling several hundred homes in the greater Quad-Cities, we have developed some insight into the financing process. One of the financing tools available to buyers over the age of 62 is the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase authorized by the US Congress just a couple years ago. Many of our buyers have used this device and from what I hear they are happy they did.
But almost every time I ask a potential buyer if they have heard about this program, they tell me that they don’t think they like it. So, we talk some more, and I describe how it works, and after a while they seem to better understand how it might be a solution to their needs. You may have seen some of our advertising on how it works, but let me take a minute here in case you are not familiar with it.

You have to be age 62 or older to qualify. Based on the age of the younger borrower on the mortgage, the lender will determine the amount of the down payment. At the closing, you make that down payment, and you never have to make another mortgage payment for as long as you remain in the home. The balance of the purchase price is covered by the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase. When you are through with the home and leave, the home is sold by you or your survivors, the mortgage is paid off and any leftover funds go to you or your estate. You never owe more than the sale price of the home so you do not leave your estate with a debt that they have to reconcile. While you live in the home you own it, so you pay the real estate taxes, maintain the homeowners insurance, pay your utilities, and you pay us to maintain the lawn and shovel the snow.

Maybe an example would help. If you are age 72, your down payment would be about 35 percent of the purchase price of the home. So if you buy one of our $250,000 homes, your one-time down payment would be about $88,000. For most buyers, this comes from the proceeds of the sale of their existing home. So, if they sell their current home for $125,000, they give us about $88,000 at closing and pocket the difference of about $37,000. They receive a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase for the balance of the purchase price—about $165,000—and the seller of the home is paid off completely. And that’s it. The buyers move in and can stay until the last survivor departs, at which time the home is sold, the mortgage is paid off and any funds left over go to the estate. Incidentally, the mortgage is at a fixed rate currently about 4.99 percent and insured by the U.S. Government.

PRESERVING WEALTH

I mentioned earlier that having worked a lifetime, at retirement our buyers are interested in preserving their wealth. That means being wise consumers and holding on to their resources as long as possible to enhance their quality of life, minimize stress and maintain an ability to deal with a rainy day should it happen. That applies to the selection of senior housing, as well. Earlier I said that paying cash for senior housing may make sense for some people, but I think that today there are better options. For instance, the home that you buy will appreciate at the same rate whether you own it 100 percent or only 35 percent. So why not take those excess funds and reinvest them in something that will earn money for you. I know that today’s CD rates are not much, but every banker I know thinks that as inflation comes upon us, those rates will increase. Other buyers like quality stocks that pay dividends of 5, 6, 7 percent or better.

Whatever your preferred investment option, we believe that it’s possible to put your excess funds to work earning money while you sleep, rather than leaving them idle as excess equity in your home.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

I visited recently with a couple who moved into one of the area’s very nice and new independent living facilities in the area, and who wanted out after a year of living there. “What happened?” I asked. “We missed having our own home,” the wife said. “The place was very nice,” she said, “but it was expensive, our space was smaller than we were accustomed to, we missed having a yard for our dog, and we missed having our garage nearby when we went out,” she added. As we talked again during the planning of their new home, the wife indicated that more and more the Quad-Cities is offering services to seniors to make it easier to remain in their own home. She spoke about regular or occasional housecleaning, meals, nursing assistance, transportation and laughing, she said there is even a service that will accompany her husband to a Cubs game whenever he wants to go. And she added what I think may have been her greatest fear, with rates going up every year at the assisted living facility, she wondered if their money would run out by staying at the independent living “hotel” as she called it. We hear it over and over again. “There’s no place like home.”

The spring home selling season is well under way, and Dan Dolan Homes has town homes in a wide range of prices at our Davenport location, as well as at our new site in Bettendorf. Our model homes are open weekends at both locations, and we welcome the opportunity to visit with you and discuss both the homes and the available financing options.

If you haven’t heard, local community leaders have created a chapter of the Honor Flight Network, called Honor Flight of the Quad-Cities. It all started at Ridgecrest Village in Davenport when William Shore, a resident WWII Veteran asked if Honor Flight was a credible organization. So, we called the national office in Springfield, Ohio. Founder Earl Morse said, “We have just flown 400 veterans from around the country to Washington D.C. that weekend.” Senator Bob Dole also was involved. We had 40+ WWII Vets at Ridgecrest that wanted to go. Morse said, “If they complete the application, they will go on the waiting list (8,000 so far). If you want them to go sooner, start your own Honor Flight Hub.” Thus, Honor Flight of the Quad Cities was founded!

We have been flying America’s WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of these heroes since November 1, 2008. Top priority continues to be given to veterans of WWII service, and any veterans with a terminal illness who wish to visit their memorial.

LATEST NEWS: The next flight, Tuesday, May 22, is dedicated to Korean War Era Veterans. Veterans must have served from June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955. Art Petersen, Korean era veteran and Hub Treasurer, said, “It is time to recognize the service of the men and women of the often-called ‘Police Action,’ which in reality was a brutal war! They deserve this special recognition.”

So far approximately 1,800 veterans have safely flown on 18 trips. A comfortable chartered 737 aircraft from Sun Country leaves at 7 a.m. and returns at 10 p.m. The nonstop flight departs early in the morning from the Quad-City International Airport and flies to Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., returning later that evening.

Three modern motor coach buses skillfully transport veterans and their Guardians to the Udvar-Hazy Center Air & Space Museum (Smithsonian), WWII Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Iwo Jima, the Women’s Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and Abraham Lincoln Monument. Each bus has a lift for bringing wheelchair dependent veterans on board, plus a convenient restroom.

The intention is to honor as many of our local and regional heroes who were selfless in their military duty, with a free trip to visit their memorial. Veterans from throughout a 75 mile radius are encouraged to apply for the trip. The program operates on donations from organizations and individuals. Volunteers of all kinds are needed to help coordinate the flight event, and special Guardians
are trained to help escort the veterans the day of the flight. We currently have over 300 Guardians who are willing to pay $500 for the honor of escorting our veteran heroes.

WWII and Korean era veterans interested in applying for the trip, as well as interested donors and volunteers, are encouraged to contact Margie Hansen at the Honor Flight office at Ridgecrest Village. Email at MHansen@Ridgecrestvillage.org, call (563) 391-3430, or download applications at www.honorflightqc.org.